Riikka Honkanen

Finnland

RIIKKA: THE RARE DIAMOND FROM NURMIJÄRVI IN THE REDSTER LINE UP

That’s what you call flexibility. Riikka practised no less than eight types of sport in her childhood and teenage years. Among them weight-lifting, dancing and orienteering. But then she stayed with Alpine sports. Even though her home town of Nurmijärvi is only 30 minutes away from Helsinki and far away from the large Finnish ski resorts. But Riikka still worked her way quickly to the top: Bronze at the Olympic Youth Games 2013 (mixed competition), Silver and Bronze in the Giant Slalom at the Junior World Championships in 2016 and 2018, and 12 wins at FIS races and three Finnish Champion titles. Now the 20 year old is ready for the next step, wants to prove her speed in the European and World Cup. And as the talent scouts from Atomic have the keenest eyes (and naturally for the Finnish Atomic parent company Amer, a Finnish lady should be part of the line up) Riikka is now part of the future Redster hopes in the Ladies team.